Not really on the Whitley Reed but heading in that direction - a Short Eared Owl over my house in Antrobus this morning ,but unfortunately was on my way to work at the time so couldn't follow it up .
4 Common Snipe 2 Raven 3 Kestrel 1 Sparrowhawk 120/130 Pinkfooted Geese - high over heading SE . First of the winter .
20 + Reed Bunting 4/6 Yellowhammef 20 /30 Skylark 200+'Meadow Pipit 2 Grey Wagtail 2 White Wagtail 15/20 Songthrush 25/30 Blackbirds. - these two species in a small area of dense hawthorn 20 LT Tits 1 House Martin 12 Swallows. Both species heading SW but low 2 Chiffchaff
2 Raven 1 Common Snipe 4 Grey Partridge 6/8 Jays 7/8 Song Thrush 3 Mistle Thrush 1 Common Whitethroat 8 Chiffchaff 1 Stonechat. ( f) 3 Yellowhammer Up to 7 Bullfinch - a species that seems to have done well around here over the last few years 1 Siskin 2 Linnet only 200 + Lapwing 60+ Starling Only a few Hirundines.
1 male Redstart. - been around since at least 3/8 . Virtually in the same bush. 4 Raven 4/6 Jays 2 Kestrel 1/2 Lesser Whitethroat 1 prob Sedge warbler 1 yellow Wagtail Sev Bullfinch 9/10 Mistle Thrush 150/200 Hirundines 9 Grey Partridge
2 Redstart - 1 1 st winter female , calling softly but staying immobile in deep cover 1. Ad Male in worn plumage but still a striking bird calling vigorously Almost certainly the same birds I saw 3/8 - same location etc
1/2 Raven 1 Hobby 1 Little Owl 2 Yellow Wagtail 1 Green Woodpecker. An unusual bird around these parts. Grey Partridge calling 20 Lapwing plus 2 nearly fledged juvs and one recently dead . 4 Common Snipe 20 c Linnet 120/150 Goldfinch - a lovely sight drinking from ditch . 1 Mistle Thrush 1 Common Redstart. A fine male in eclipse / worn plumage but still a fine sight! - possibly a second bird too.
2 Oystercatcher 1 Curlew The usual Lapwing numbers with at least 4 chicks 2 Red legged Partridge 2 Grey Partridge 4 Yellow Wagtail 1 Northern Wheatear ( f ) 1 Sedge Warbler 2 Raven 1 Kestrel Sev Pairs of Linnet ( doing better as a breeding bird here over the last few years )
Cheers
Chris Hancock
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 14th of May 2016 07:16:43 AM
A quick couple of hours on the Reed this morning produced the following...
1 White Wagtail 4-6 Yellow Wagtail First Lesser Whitethroats of the year 1 Sedge Warbler 4/5 Northern Wheatear 2 Curlew The usual Lapwings with several chicks 1 Kestrel Sev Buzzard , including a pure white head and chest . Striking bird.
4 Grey Partridge 40c Lapwing with a few chicks , but more ploughing will, no doubt have destroyed sev/ many broods 1 Curlew 1st Swifts of the year on the patch 2 Sedge Warbler 1 Tree Sparrow 4/6 Yellow Wagtail 3 Mistle Thrush 1 Fieldfare - v tardy ! 8/10 Northern Wheatear ( all carefully checked for any Greenland types but no joy ) 1 Sparrowhawk 2 Kestrel
A quick couple of hours on the Whitley Reed ( but not the Stretton Airfield)
4 Grey Partridge 2 Red-legged Partridge 1 Kestrel ( m ) 20/22 Yellowhammer - still a feeding flock on partially ploughed stubble 16 Northern Wheatear 1 Whinchat ( m ) 1 lesser Redpoll 8/12 Linnet 40 c Lapwing with several chicks now 2 Curlew 1 Whimbrel - feeding with the above
Cheers Chris Hancock
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 3rd of May 2016 06:59:51 PM
Had a spin round the area today with Greg Baker and Mark Jarrett ( thanks guys , I enjoyed your company ! ) Birds seen ....
12 Fieldfare ( still feeding quietly in their usual field) 18-20 Northern Wheatear Up to 6 Yellow Wagtail ( inc a brief unusually dark plumaged female , which couldn't be relocated ) 40c Lapwing with 5/6 chicks 1 Red Legged Partridge 2 Grey Partridge 2/3 Kestrel 1 Oystercatcher 2 Curlew 2 Shelduck
Cheers
Chris Hancock
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 28th of April 2016 06:16:27 PM
20 + Fieldfare still around 6 Northern Wheatear 30 + Linnet 12/15 Lesser Redpoll 2 Oystercatcher 1 Curlew 40 c Lapwing. No sign of the chicks seen a few days ago. The Farmer has been working on the field ( immaculate timing ! ) and I fear they have not survived . How sad.
1 Common Snipe 2 Grey Partridge Blackcaps now in - 5 singing birds 1 House Martin 1 Kestrel (M ) 3 Yellowhammer ( wintering flock finally dispersed )
5/6 Coot 1 Oystercatcher 2/4 Grey Partridge 2 Red-legged Partridge Sev Sand Martin moving thru heading NW Sev Swallows now on territory 30+ Linnet 1/2 Lesser Redpoll 5 Buzzard soaring at 9.00 am 1 Little Owl 6 Jays - tail chasing each other 5 Northern Wheatear 20/25 Fieldfare still feeding in the same field Many Willow Warbler Sev Common Whitethroat Many Chiffchaff but still no Blackcaps yet !
Cheers
Chris Hancock
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 19th of April 2016 11:04:48 AM
4/6 Gadwall 4 Coot on now receding flooded field /pond 40 c Lapwing Oystercatcher (H ) 30/40 Fieldfare - quietly feeding on wet pasture 1/2 Yellow Wagtail ( m ) 3-5 Lesser Redpoll 30 c Linnet 3 Northern ( ? )Wheatear - all males inc one v bright , large one but distant . 1 Common Whitethroat. ( first of the year and only one bird) 12/15 Yellowhammer 2 Grey Partridge 2 Red-legged Partridge 2 Common Snipe 1 Kestrel (m)
Cheers Chris Hancock
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 19th of April 2016 11:05:21 AM
1xTufted Duck ( unusual here ) 1x Shelduck 2 Greylag geese 1 Bewick/ whooper swan high over ?? 8 x Coot - on flooded field and pond 40 cLapwing 3-4 Common Snipe 3 Grey Partridge 2 Raven 50/60 Fieldfare 80/90 Linnet 1 Yellow Wagtail(f) 3 Swallows Sev Willow Warbler and Chiff but no other warblers yet
40/45 Yellowhammer still feeding on old stubble 3 Northern Wheatear 20 Meadow Pipits dropped in 2 Kestrel Sev Buzzard
11 Coot ( all on one flooded field) 2 Curlew 6/7 Common Snipe 40c Lapwing 7 Northern Wheatear 1 Yellow Wagtail. ( the earliest I've had in 12 years at the site ) 1/2 Willow Warbler Many Chiffchaff 2 Siskin Sev Linnet 20 + Yellowhammer 110/130 Meadow Pipit - migrants flushed from a small area of stubble Sev Skylark 4 jays 1 Sparrowhawk 4 Buzzard 2 Grey Partridge 2 RL. Partridge 1 Little Owl 2 Kestrel
5 Northern Wheatear 2 White Wagtail 3 Chiffchaff 1 Swallow 1 Sand Martin 35 /36 Lapwing - most on territory 1 Raven 2 Curlew 2 Grey Partridge 1/2 Red Leg Partridge 38 Yellowhammer. ( still in a feeding flock) 1 pale , largish female Merlin , which allowed a very close approach .
After an enforced lay off ( operation) it was good to be back!
Birds seen 1000 + Jackdaw feeding on old Maize . A great sight and sound. 2 Mistle Thrush 1 Green Sandpiper 2 Woodcock 32/33 Common Snipe 1 Jacksnipe 2 white type Wagtail with 15 + Pied 1 Tawny Owl
1 imm Peregrine ( m ) 3 Raven on sheep carcass 800/1000 asst Jackdaw/ Rook 21/23 Grey Partridge 2. Red legged Partridge 11 Common Snipe 45 Pink footed Geese in two separate skeins. The second group seen to land 40 + Lapwing 1 Woodcock 5 Teal 1 Common Gull Sev Lesser black backs 40 + Skylark 30 + Mipits 200 c Linnet 250/300 Chaffinch 5/6 Bullfinch. ( a species that seems to be increasing hereabouts ) 1 Lesser Redpoll 16/18 Siskin
1 Peregrine ( m ) - been around for a while now . 1 Golden Plover over 1 Jack Snipe 50 c Lapwing 9 Common Snipe 1 Woodcock 7 Grey Partridge 70+ Yellowhammer ( wet stubble field ) 90/100 Linnet 20 Goldfinch 3Bullfinch 2 Grey Wagtail 100/110 Skylark from one field ( old stubble) 1 Mistle Thrush 3 Song Thrush 1 Little Owl 1 Raven
2 Kestrel 1 Goshawk (m) - with falconers bells attached . Sev Buzzard 2/3 Grey Wagtail 3 White Wagtail 15 + Lesser Redpoll 10 + Siskin 4 Mistle Thrush 1 Goldcrest 2/3 Bullfinch 35 Linnet 40/50 Skylark 20/ 25 yellowhammer 33 Grey Partridge 2 Red leg Partridge 1 Golden plover 60 Lapwing 1 Woodcock 25/40 Common Snipe. ( some duplication) A pure White Pheasant( m) - hopefully will stay well away from the Arley estate Shoots !
1 Peregrine ( m) seen to take a Starling only to lose it to 2 Carrion Crows -some dramatic aerial stuff. 2 Kestrel 3 Buzzard - inc one pale bird . 1/2 Grey Wagtail. 1/2 Bullfinch A few Redpoll and Siskin with Goldfinches 2 Treesparrow 1 White wagtail 1/2,Mistle Thrush Sev Song Thrush and Winter thrushes 8 Yellowhammer 1 Little Owl 1 Woodcock 2 Common Snipe only Grey Partridges calling 1 first winter Common Gull mobbing both Buzzard and Kestrel
Sev small flocks of Siskin & Redpoll ( lots about of both this autumn) 1/2 white Wagtail 1 Grey Wagtail 2/3000 Starling 70 c Skylark 40c Linnet 1 Treesparrow Sev Bullfinch 15 Yellowhammer 30 c Grey Partridge 21 Pink Footed Geese ( feeding in field alongside track across the Reed . Normally they fly straight over !) 1 Little Owl 1/2 Woodcock - first of the winter.
Birds seen this morning 1 Merlin (f) 1 Kestrel ( m) I Sparrowhawk ( f) 2 Buzzard 5 Pinkfooted Geese 1 Green Sandpiper( flew into Gale Brook ) 21 Common Snipe 1 Jack Snipe 28/30 Grey Partridge- best count for ages! 1,500 - 2,000 Starling 300 c Fieldfare 1-2 Mistle Thrush Sev Song Thrush 30-40 Redwing I Grey Wagtail 40 + Skylark 2-4 Bullfinch Sev each Redpoll and Siskin 20 c Yellowhammer
1 Cuckoo ( ad ) 7 Mistle Thrush. 20 plus White Wagtail. 400 + hirundines ( inc a few Sand Martin , but a total clear out of Swifts) 1 Hobby ( see above ! ) 4 Yellow Wagtail. 2 Siskin. 2 juv Kestrel. 1 Little Owl
Birds seen yesterday... 10/12 Northern Wheatear ( all carefully checked for potential Green/Icelandic birds ) Female Whinchat 2 Curlew 1 Oystercatcher 1 Swift A late Meadow Pipit . 2 Kestrel mating 1 Sedge Warbler 15 plus Willow Warbler from one small area of climax woodland First Lapwing chicks now out , but the farmers decision to let his pigs forage on the best field. ( despite my efforts to persuade him otherwise ) will have decimated 13 nests . It's enough to make you weep . Cheers Chris Hancock
Birds today..... 12/14 pairs of Lapwing nesting on field on the north side of the track, plus several others scattered throughout and 12+ birds on airfield I Reeve ( feeding on a wet area of the above field) 2 Curlew 8/10 White Wagtail 4/6 Northern Wheatear 1 Grey Wagtail 2 Kestrel Good presence now of Willow Warblers , Blackcaps , Swallows Still a flock of approx 150 Linnet on the Airfield
Birds seen yesterday 10 Golden plover ( N ) 3 Oystercatcher 2 Curlew ( summering?) 4 Northern Wheatear 70 c Fieldfare (S) 2 Swallows 1 Willow Warbler 1 Blackcap - both the above 1st of the year Many Chiffs 2 Grey Partridge Approx 15- 18 prs Lapwing nesting. ( plus another 6 prs on old Airfield ) Cheers Chris Hancock